The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-05-26
TERMS or sursoRIpiIoN.
THURSDAY, MAY 90, 1887.
scaling the Rocky Mountains.

The following letter has been written
for the special benefit of the readers Of
the HERALD by lady we'll known in
literary circles in Honolulu. 1t dc
scribes part Of trip to the Eastern
States on which the writer started, per
Australia of the rsth April last:--
When we settled ourselves on the
cars that were 10 take US from Salt
Lake City to Denver, we found our
accommodations much more cramped
than on the Central Pacific route, as
this was a narrow gauge road Our
ride from the first moment was full Of
interest. Beautiful valley Of the Salt
Lake. Snow capped mountains on
the cast, the blue lake at intervals on
the west, and fertile plains over which
we ran at delightful speed. We
were making straight for the noun.
tains on the southeast and expected
them to open for our royal progress"
but the realization was not imme date,
and was something Of a surprise when
we found ourselves suddenly on rising
grade, threading ravines in very
matter of fact way All the afternoon
we spent in the Wasatch valley. Al
ways snow capped mountains were in
view, stretching away in every direc-
ton, while their highest peak, Mount
Nebo, lifted its noble head to such a
calm height, that in their remarkably
clear atmosphere, we saw il distinctly
ninety miles away. The rise was gra-
dual but full Of interest, the hills seem
ed terraced by nature for our special
benefit, and we wound our way among
canons full of color and charm. Drop
ping down the other side was at first
uneventful, but as the hours passed,
we found ourselves rushing into gorges
whose depth was appalling The strata
of the rocks were infinite yet well de
fined. Higher toward heaven lowered
the frowning precipices at whose base
we chung in mute amazement Around
one dizzy curve after another and we're
borne across the stream that threaded
this wonderful valley, viewing from one
side and then the other its terrible
grandeur AT last the train stopped
and we alighted at Castle Gate. Here
the canon is very narrow, the cliffs are
many hundred feet in height, entirely
bare of vegetation, but brilliant with
varied hues stamped and burnt by the
ages. From one side OF the mountain
wall juts huge projection about half
way across the entire width of the
gorge. A corresponding promontory
faces it on the other, but so worn by
the frosts and heat of time that its
thickness in proportion to its height is
about the same as many Of the monu-
mental shafts now in existence. Eight
hundred feet it lowered and the mind
and eye could not in the few moments
of passing grasp its immensely Night
found us wearied with the days expert
ences, but limited sleeping accommo-
dations did not furnish the recupera-
ton necessary for the complete enjoy.
ment Of what was to come.
We were reused at S a. m. to pre-
pare for breakfast and found ourselves
in the Black Canon and thought we
were as high up the mountain as we
ought to go. We could look down
many hundred feet and trace the route
by which we have reached our present
position. So serpentine was its course
that a companion train seemed TO be
going the opposite direction on lower
grade, while in reality it was following
u.s. When we stepped from the trair
we found the platform covered with
frost; icicles hung from every available
point; every little pool was coated witt
ice and snow lay in beautiful patche;
on the hills around. During the mex
two hours we slipped down consider
ably from the height at which we founC
ourselves at daylight, going so cauti
ously that all sense of danger was laiC
to rest. We we're literally lost among
the mountains. Looking in any direc
ton gave che no expectation of beinl
ever extricated from these wilds. w
glided over the narrow trail so thor
oughly built into the sides Of the mos
stupendous precipices, crossed at inter
walls the noisy little stream that attend
ed US constantly crept through narro'
dehles, turned sharp corners that expe
rience only proved possible, and wer
continuously impressed with the proof
of the Almighty's power in bringin
order out Of confusion. Sunlight an,